“Toeing” and “Heeling” at Golf

Abstract

I FEAR that “P. G. T.'s” reply to my letter on the above subject has left us very much in the same position as before. This is regrettable, as I hoped that further light would have been shed on this interesting mechanical problem. Before complying with the invitation to “think over the result of the impulsive rotation of the club-head,” I considered it would be well to get some trustworthy observations on which to reason. With this object our professional, Mr. David Lowe, made twenty-seven tee shots with the driver, while I noted the effect. My instructions to him were, whether striking off the toe or the heel, to drive as truly as he could in the direction of an object selected for that purpose. The effects were as follows:—When the ball went off the heel of the club, the ball in its flight curved to the right, even though its direction commenced obliquely to the left; to this there was no exception. The opposite curve, or to he left, with only one exception, was produced by hitting off the toe. Care was taken to ascertain in each case the point of impact of the ball on the club-face.